Easing the End of an Animal’s Life

How Reiki can bring more peace to an animal’s end-of-life transition for both the animals and their people.

During my work as a professional animal communicator, Reiki practitioner and pet loss support specialist, I have the profound honour of helping animals and their people before, during and after animals’ end-of-life transitions. But when I first started this work, I hadn’t thought of offering Reiki during the transition itself. It was an experience with a special dog and his person that led me to do it regularly.

For several months, I had been doing frequent remote communication and Reiki sessions with a dog who was undergoing medical treatment for tumors. Animal communication helped us understand what he needed during this difficult time, and Reiki was one of the ways we could help meet those needs.

The dog’s person often chose to receive Reiki alongside him because it helped replenish her energy and bring her back to center, which ultimately allowed her to be a better caretaker for him. It also supported their bond and their own communication by helping her feel even more connected to him.

Eventually, the dog let us know that it was time for him to make his end-of-life transition, and his person made arrangements to get assistance from her vet. As we discussed the details, the idea came to me — perhaps through divine inspiration — to offer Reiki to both of them remotely during the transition. Both the person and the dog liked that idea and so we agreed to do it.

The dog’s person called me before the vet appointment, and when we hung up I began to send Reiki to them both remotely. I imagined them both surrounded by a comforting and loving bubble of light.

As I always do during my Reiki sessions, I kept the lines of communication open with the dog in case he wanted to tell me anything. He let me know that he was ready and that he was not scared. He also sent messages of gratitude and love for his person.

Soon, I could sense him transitioning out of his body; I felt such feelings of freedom and love – and no more pain. He also showed me stunning visuals of his soul leaving his body, with beautiful bursts of light and color. It was such a sacred and beautiful experience, and I was honored to assist.

A drawing I created based on what a dog showed me during his end-of-life transition.

When the appointment was over, his person called me and said she felt immense feelings of peace and calm along with the expected sadness. When I told her about the messages and visuals, she let me know that they brought even more comfort to her.

Reiki during an animal’s end-of-life transition, for both the animals and their people, is something I now offer regularly. Each time, I sense feelings of freedom and see unique visual representations of the animal’s soul leaving their body. (And sometimes, I try to recreate these visuals in drawings and paintings, like the one above.)

Just like with the first session I did, people continue to report a sense of peace that comes over them and a greater connection with their animals at the time of their passing. When I explain the messages, feelings and visuals that the animals share with me during their transitions, they say it brings them even greater comfort.

Although Reiki can't and should not take away the grief surrounding an animal companion’s end-of-life transition, it can bring more comfort, connection, and ease to the experience for everyone.

I wrote this article for The Reiki Association, and it was originally published it in the Autumn 2025 edition of Touch Magazine. I’m sharing it here with permission.